One of my few alligator photos. I took several shots of this alligator as he rested by the edge of Lake Trafford. Alligators look laid back but they can be dangerous, don’t get too close.
Tag: Florida
Rudbeckia black eyed susan flower photo by Ian Sands
One of my favorites is the rudbeckia flower, also know by it’s common name, black eyed susan. The yellow flowers can be seen growing alongside the road, in ditches, in Florida’s forests. A few rudbeckia black eyed susan plants have grown up in my yard. If interested in this rudbeckia black eyed susan flower photo on a canvas or a…
Florida Orange Fire Sunset over the pasture
A orange fireball sunset photo that I took through palmettos and under an oak tree. The sky this night was hazy and made for an orange sky when the sun started to go down.
Peach Hibiscus Flower Closeup Photo
Another photo of this peach / lavender color hibiscus flower. This hibiscus grows in my yard and has been continued through cuttings to several other hibiscus plants. Hibiscus flowers come in many colors but usually only a few can be found in a garden center. I’ve never seen this one at any store. Perhaps I will make some more cuttings…
Queen Butterfly (Danaus gilippus) on a milkweed flower photo
Photo by Ian Sands. Location: LaBelle Florida. Subject: Queen Butterfly. This queen butterfly was fluttering around and through the milkweed plants at my moms house. The queen butterfly has vibrant colors and patterns as you can hopefully see from this photo. When photographing butterflies I always try to take the picture using the macro setting. I think that macro captures…
Orange Sunset Through Palmetto
Sunset photo by Ian Sands. Location: LaBelle, Florida. I took this sunset photo in Port Labelle. The sun setting through the palmetto fronds and highlighting the sky and weeds really make this one of my favorite sunset photos.
White Peacock Butterfly photo on a zinnia flower
One of my older photos of a white peacock butterfly on a zinnia flower. Butterflies are beautiful creatures to watch. If you can capture a photo of a butterfly you can enjoy their beauty even longer. White peacock butterflies can be seen fluttering on the flowers of weeds and other plants in Florida and warmer states. There are more colorful…
Ghost Crab on Cape San Blas Beach
There are lots of ghost crabs on Cape San Blas beach at Saint Joseph peninsula state park in Florida. At first the crabs would just run down their hole when I got close and I thought I’d surely never get a picture. But if I didn’t get too close and didn’t move too much they would stay out and I…
Cape San Blas Beach, Saint Joseph peninsula state park Florida
I’ve been to a few beaches in Florida and I have to say that Cape San Blas has the prettiest sand I’ve seen in the state. This was at Saint Joseph peninsula state park, very worth while to see if you are one who enjoys the beach. This beach had many sand dunes, lots of ghost crabs, beautiful sea oats,…
Sanibel Sunset on the Causeway
I took this closeup photo of the sunset in May on the Sanibel Causeway in Florida. I like the contrast of the dark waters against the orange sky with the sun slipping away and lighting up the trees on the far shore. I haven’t been catching as many sunsets as I’d like but am happy to have this one forever.
Black swallowtail butterfly photo Papilio polyxenes
Never know what you might see at the Okaloacoochee Slough state forest. I was lucky enough to see this black swallowtail butterfly enjoying this spanish needle flower. This swallowtail kept going back and forth between a few flowers giving me the opportunity to capture several photos. I don’t see the black swallowtail butterfly too often and am happy that I…
Yellow tabebuia flower photo
I took this photo of this tabebuia flower from the sidewalk on the side of the highway. Tabebuia is a tree that seems to bloom once a year, very early in the spring in southwest Florida. The tabebuia tree is hardly noticeable during the year when it’s not blooming. As you can see the tabebuia flowers make a nice photo. I’m hoping…
Pink Desert Rose Flower Photo
I took this photo of this pink desert rose flower a few years back and recently came across it and wanted to share. The desert rose has become one of my favorite flowers. Of course one reason being that it makes a good picture. There are several different color flowers including white, red, and different variations of pink. Currently the…
White hibiscus flower photography
This bright white hibiscus flower photo was taken in Labelle Florida. The sunlight was hitting the flower just right to capture the hibiscus color and shape. Notice the outlined shadows on the flower. The dark background makes the white hibiscus stand out. Thank you for viewing my photography. If you are interested in purchasing a print or my work on…
White Hibiscus Flower Picture
This hibiscus photo has always been one of my favorites. For me it turned out so well because the plant was in an overgrown area casting lots of shade except directly on the white flower. So the setting made for a dark background with a bright white hibiscus flower illuminated. Thank you for viewing my photography. If you are interested…
Double Pink Oleander Flower
A picture I took a while back that I really like. This pink oleander flower seems bigger than most regular oleander flowers. Oleander flowers are poisonous. Not too much to worry about though as long as you don’t ingest any part of the plant. If you like flowers the oleander is one worth checking out. Thank you for viewing my…
Yellow Alamanda Flower Photo
A closeup picture of an alamanda flower. Seems the light was just right to capture the texture and bright color of this flower. There are several different varieties of alamanda. I believe yellow is the main color but there are possibly other colors. Alamanda grows as a vine or a bush. The green of the leaves in the background of…
Scrub Jay Bird on Post
I miss living in Muse Florida where I would often see the rare scrub jay bird in my yard. And even more so if we put bird seed out. I was fortunate enough to snap three photos of this bird. I don’t think I’ve seen one since I moved from Muse, maybe I should take a ride out there and…
Pink hibiscus flower close up photo
This photo was take in the month of September in the small town of Labelle, Florida. This plant was growing near a sidewalk that made it easily accessible for capturing the close up image. What I like about this picture is the pink of the flower and the angle it’s taken at. I like the slight contrast of the pink…
Sunset and a palm tree on the Sanibel causesway
A clear afternoon for a dazzling sunset on the Sanibel Causeway This photo was take in the month of August in the beautiful state of Florida A little glare and a few smudges on my lens but still a great capture. After dinner with my wife driving back over the bridge to Sanibel island we just had to stop on the…
Yellow elder plant, colorful flowers
The yellow elder is native to the Bahamas and is its national flower. It can also be seen throughout south Florida. I started this plant from a seed and watched it grow. It took less than three years until it’s first flowers. Yes, that’s a while, but not too long to enjoy these beautiful flowers in my opinion. Of course,…
Sunset on the Beach, Lido Key Florida
Lido Key Beach Sunset. I snapped this shot and several others at Lido South Park in Sarasota Florida. If you enjoy the beach this park is worth the visit. A great place for photography or just for relaxing and or swimming. There are picnic benches and restrooms and if I remember correctly bar B Q grills also. If you enjoy nature…
Flower Pink Oleander photo, LaBelle Florida
Pink Oleander Flower. A common flower seen in Florida. Pink is the most common flower but I’ve seen other colors as well such as red and white. The scientific name for this plant is nerium oleander. The plant is toxic (poisonous) but still found in many yards and business parking lots. Pretty to look at but don’t eat it. Who would,…
Yellow Partridge Pea Flower at Labelle Nature Park
Yellow flower partridge pea, chamaecrista fasciculata. I first came across this plant when visiting a park. (Hickeys Creek Mitigation Park)It’s a small flower, not very showy but the more I saw it the more it grew on me. I used google and found the common name of this plant is the partridge pea and the scientific name is It’s a small flower, not very…
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest image taken from the boardwalk
A common scene at the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest. If you visit this forest in Florida you will see plenty of palmettos and cabbage palm trees. I took this shot from the boardwalk at the slough. Be careful, I have encountered a gator at the boardwalk. My wife has also seen a bobcat that ran away. There are several roads…
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest Florida
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest Hendry County Florida. One of my very favorite spots to photograph and enjoy the natural beauty of God’s creation and enjoy peace and quiet. I absolutely love the way the palm fronds grow naturally. Are they a mess and all over the place, or are they just picture perfect? If this forest was mowed and landscaped,…
Orchid Flower Photo by Ian Sands
Orchid Flower (Orchid Tree) In Florida there are several trees that you can see blooming during the year. Also referred to as a Hongkong Orchid. There are trees with white orchid flowers as well. Orchid trees grow big and can drop a lot of leaves, but if you enjoy flowers they are worth it. They also produce seed pods…
Bees on Pink Coral Vine Flower
The coral vine plant has bunches of vibrant pink flowers that makes it stand out to anyone that likes colors or flowers. As you can see from the picture it is also a favorite of bees. When the flowers fade and dry they produce a seed that isn’t too hard to start a new vine from. Cora vine can grow…
Royal Poinciana Tree Photo
Yes I already posted a photo of a royal poinciana tree but it is such a colorful tree that I ha to post another for your enjoyment. The royal poinciana has to be one of the most vivid colorful flower trees in the world. I know there are other trees with purple and yellow and orange colors but can any…
Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest
I took this photo at the Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest in Florida. A gorgeous preserve that you should take the time to visit. Lots of wild life to see including birds, raccoons, bobcats, alligators, armadillos, lizards, butterflies and deer. Also things that are there that I haven’t seen are bears, panthers and snakes. Even if you visit and don’t see…
Zebra Winged Butterfly on Spanish Needle Flower
Zebra Winged Butterfly (Heliconius charitonia) on Spanish Needle Flower. This flower is a common weed but most don’t know that it’s leaves can be eaten and are a source of protein. The butterfly likes it too. Zebra winged butterflies are a common sight in Florida, maybe because the Spanish needle flower is also common here? This butterfly’s host plant is…
Monarch Butterfly on red penta flowers
A close up. If you want a picture of a butterfly you should get comfortable and be patient. The butterfly will eventually stop long enough for you to take the picture, you just have to be ready. Most of the time if there are flowers the butterfly will be there for several minutes and you should have enough time…
Palm Sunset in Lakeworth Florida
Orange sunset with palm tree through the power lines. I took this photo in Lakeworth near West Palm Beach from the sidewalk of a busy street. A beautiful sunset over a busy street with lots of traffic. I took quite a few photos that afternoon, most had traffic in them but the sky colors produced by the sunset still make…
Fire Orange Sunset Photo Labelle Florida
Orange sunset over the trees and brush. This sunset photo was taken on a back road looking through the trees. The branches on the right are from an oak tree and the brush on the left is mainly from un mowed weeds on the side of the road. The orange red colors that this sunset turned the sky was pretty…
Royal Poinciana Tree
Royal poinciana tree with red blooms and seed pods. One of my favorite trees, the royal poinciana blooms during the summer months and has beautiful showy red flowers. I see the blooms mostly when I’m driving but whenever I get the chance I stop to capture a few photos. Royal poinciana grow into big trees and can be started from the…
Pink Peach Hibiscus Flower
This hibiscus flower plant was started from a cutting and passed onto me. It has since then been multiplied several times by many cuttings. I know it can be seen regularly on the island of Abaco in the Bahamas but have not seen it in too many places in Florida. How I got one is a little bit of…
Gulf Fritillary Butterfly on Zinnia Flower
One of my very favorite butterfly photos. This gulf fritillary butterfly almost looks like a painting. I used the macro setting on my camera as I often do for closeup shots and this one turned out perfectly. The detail of the wing is exquisite. The gulf fritillary butterfly is a common sight in Florida and looks like a different…
Yellow Cana Lily Flower Picture
My brother gave me this yellow canna lily plant a while back and as you can see the colors are very vibrant. A very nice lily to photograph. The canna seems to like a lot of water so it flowers mostly in the summer during the rainy season. The lily has various colors also including red and orange. During the…
Oleander Plant Flower Photo
The oleander is one of my favorite types of flowers. There are various colors but as far as I can tell the most common are pink an crimson. This one looks light yellow to almost white. The plant grows into a sizable bush and seems to always have a number of flowers on display. Oleander flowers can be seen all…
Fox squirrel in an oak tree
This fox squirrel showed up at the house when he realized we put out seed for the birds. He was there daily for about a month, only stopped coming when the bird seed ran out. His orange and black coat was quite showy. This photo was taken in the back yard when we lived in Muse, Florida. I have several…